LED fixture lighting level setting system and process

Abstract

A system for setting the light level in one or more lighting fixtures connected to a control device such as a wall switch or occupancy sensor using only the conventional power wires. The conventional switch is used to turn power on and off to controlled circuits but also to send level setting sequences to special modules installed in the lighting fixtures and connected to the conventional 0-10V dimming connections. The special modules are connected only to the low voltage 0-10V dimming connections with no connections to the power line or neutral circuits.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lighting fixture level setting system comprising:
 a. lighting control device with at least one line voltage power input connection and one line voltage output load connection; 
 b. one or more lighting fixtures, wherein each of said one or more lighting fixtures include a driver or a ballast having power input connections connected to said line voltage output load connection of said lighting control device; 
 c. said lighting control device capable of being manually activated to turn power to said one or more lighting fixtures on and off; 
 d. said driver or ballast having low voltage dimming input control connections that changes light level of said one or more lighting fixtures; 
 e. a level setting module configured to be connected to said low voltage dimming input control connections of said driver or ballast; 
 f. said level setting module powered from power derived only from said low voltage dimming input control connections; 
 g. said level setting module configured to set voltage on said low voltage dimming input control connections of said driver or ballast to one or more voltage and corresponding lighting levels other than the 100%; 
 h. wherein said level setting module sets the lighting level of said driver or ballast to one fixed lighting level by means of connecting a voltage clipping circuit in parallel with said low voltage dimming input control connections where said fixed lighting level is less than 100%. 
 
     
     
       2. The lighting fixture level setting system of  claim 1 , wherein said lighting control device is a simple mechanical wall switch. 
     
     
       3. The lighting fixture level setting system of  claim 1 , wherein said voltage clipping circuit is a zener diode. 
     
     
       4. The lighting fixture level setting system of  claim 1 , wherein said level setting module responsive to a on and off pattern produced manually by a person operating said lighting control device to change the lighting level of said drivers or ballasts to one of a plurality of possible different lighting levels. 
     
     
       5. The lighting fixture level setting system of  claim 1 , wherein said low voltage dimming input control connections of the one or more of said drivers or ballasts that are standard 0-10V low voltage dimming connections. 
     
     
       6. The lighting fixture level setting system of  claim 1 , wherein said lighting levels are approximately 50%, 65%, 80% or 100%. 
     
     
       7. The lighting fixture level setting system of  claim 1 , wherein said lighting control device is a conventional toggle switch. 
     
     
       8. The lighting fixture level setting system of  claim 1 , wherein said lighting control device is a conventional occupancy sensor with manual on/off control capability. 
     
     
       9. The lighting fixture level setting system of  claim 1 , wherein said lighting control device is a conventional timer with manual on/off control capability. 
     
     
       10. The lighting fixture level setting system of  claim 1 , wherein said level setting module is having no connections to the said line voltage power input connection and said line voltage output load connection. 
     
     
       11. The lighting fixture level setting system of  claim 1 , wherein said level setting module is isolated from the said line voltage power input connection and said line voltage output load connection. 
     
     
       12. The lighting fixture level setting system of  claim 1 , wherein said level setting module having no circuits responsive to any RF wireless signals. 
     
     
       13. The lighting fixture level setting system of  claim 1 , wherein one of said one or more voltage lighting levels is stored in non-volatile memory so that lighting level is maintained as current level after power to said lighting fixture or fixtures is turned OFF and then turned back ON. 
     
     
       14. A lighting fixture level setting system comprising:
 a. lighting control device with at least one line voltage power input connection and one line voltage output load connection 
 b. one or more lighting fixtures, wherein each of said one or more lighting fixtures include a driver or a ballast having power input connections connected to said line voltage output load connection of said lighting control device; 
 c. said lighting control device capable of being manually activated to turn power to said one or more lighting fixtures on and off; 
 d. said driver or ballast having low voltage dimming input control connections that changes light level of said one or more lighting fixtures; 
 e. a level setting module configure to be connected to said low voltage dimming input control connections of said driver or ballast; 
 f. said level setting module powered from power derived only from the said low voltage dimming input control connections; 
 g. said level setting module configured to set voltage on said low voltage dimming input control connections of said driver or ballast to one or more voltage and corresponding lighting levels other than the 100%; 
 h. wherein said different lighting levels are produced by said level setting module, wherein said level setting module includes a plurality of zener diodes in parallel with said low voltage dimming input control connections. 
 
     
     
       15. A lighting fixture level setting system comprising;
 a) lighting control device with at least one line voltage power input connection and one line voltage output load connection; 
 b) one or more lighting fixtures, wherein each of said one or more lighting fixtures include a driver or a ballast having power input connections connected to said line voltage output load connection of said lighting control device; 
 c) said lighting control device capable of being manually activated to turn power to said one or more lighting fixtures on and off; 
 d) said driver or ballast having low voltage dimming input control connections that changes light level of said one or more lighting fixtures; 
 e) a level setting module that configured to be connected to said low voltage dimming input control connections of said driver or ballast; 
 f) said level setting module powered from power derived only from said low voltage dimming input control connections; 
 g) said level setting module configured to set voltage on said low voltage dimming input control connections of said driver or ballast to one or more fixed voltage levels and corresponding fixed lighting levels; 
 h) wherein said level setting module sets the lighting level of said driver or ballast to one fixed lighting level by means of connecting a voltage clipping circuit in parallel with said low voltage dimming input control connections. 
 
     
     
       16. The lighting fixture level setting system of  claim 15 , wherein said lighting control device is a simple mechanical wall switch. 
     
     
       17. The lighting fixture level setting system of  claim 15 , wherein said voltage clipping circuit is a zener diode. 
     
     
       18. A lighting fixture level setting system comprising:
 a. lighting control device with at least one line voltage power input connection and one line voltage output load connection 
 b. one or more lighting fixtures, wherein each of said one or more lighting fixtures include a driver or a ballast having power input connections connected to said line voltage output load connection of said lighting control device; 
 c. said lighting control device capable of being manually activated to turn power to said one or more lighting fixtures on and off; 
 d. said driver or ballast having low voltage dimming input control connections that changes light level of said one or more lighting fixtures; 
 e. a level setting module configured to be connected to said low voltage dimming input control connections of said driver or ballast; 
 f. said level setting module powered from power derived only from low voltage dimming input control connections; 
 g. said level setting module configured to set voltage on said low voltage dimming input control connections of said driver or ballast to one or more fixed voltage levels and corresponding fixed lighting levels; 
 h. wherein said level setting module sets the lighting level of said driver or ballast to one of a plurality of fixed lighting levels by means of connecting one of a plurality of zener diodes in parallel with said low voltage dimming input control connections. 
 
     
     
       19. The lighting fixture level setting system of  claim 18 , wherein said means of connecting one of a plurality of zener diodes in parallel with said low voltage dimming input control connections is a set of mechanical switches.